The TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup 2025, scheduled from April 27 to May 5, is set to showcase the pinnacle of mixed team badminton.
This biennial event, organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), brings together the world’s top badminton nations to compete across five disciplines: men’s singles (MS), women’s singles (WS), men’s doubles (MD), women’s doubles (WD), and mixed doubles (XD).
India, drawn into the formidable Group D alongside Indonesia, Denmark, and England, aims to surpass its historical best quarter-final finishes achieved in 2011 and 2017.
India’s Squad for the 2025 Sudirman Cup:
- Men’s Singles (MS): Lakshya Sen, Haseena Sunilkumar Prannoy, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran
- Women’s Singles (WS): P.V. Sindhu, Anupama
- Men’s Doubles (MD): Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (SatChi), Ruban and Hariharan
- Women’s Doubles (WD): Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand (Treesa-Gayatri), Priya and Shruti
- Mixed Doubles (XD): Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto (KapTan), Sathish and Aadya
Group D Analysis:
Group D is arguably the “Group of Death,” featuring:
- Indonesia: The inaugural Sudirman Cup champions in 1989, Indonesia has a rich badminton heritage and consistently fields a strong team.
- Denmark: As the reigning European champions, Denmark boasts a history of strong performances in international competitions.
- England: A team with a blend of experienced and emerging talents, England has the potential to cause upsets.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making every match in the group stage crucial.
India’s Prospects:
India’s squad combines seasoned campaigners with emerging talents:
- Men’s Singles: Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy have demonstrated their mettle on the international circuit, with Lakshya’s agility and Prannoy’s experience being key assets.
- Women’s Singles: P.V. Sindhu, an Olympic silver and bronze medalist, brings invaluable experience, while Anupama represents the promising future of Indian women’s badminton.
- Doubles: The men’s duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has achieved notable success, including a historic Thomas Cup win. The women’s pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand has shown potential, and the mixed doubles combinations are expected to add strategic depth.
India’s best performances in the Sudirman Cup have been quarter-final finishes in 2011 and 2017. To progress further, India will need to secure victories against at least two of its group opponents. Matches against Denmark and England are anticipated to be closely contested, and a strong performance against Indonesia could be pivotal.
Historical Context:
The Sudirman Cup has been predominantly dominated by Asian countries:
- China: The most successful nation with 13 titles, including a recent win in 2023.
- South Korea: Four-time champions, with their latest triumph in 2017.
- Indonesia: Winners of the inaugural edition in 1989.
Denmark remains the only European country to have reached the finals, finishing as runners-up in 1999 and 2011.
India’s consistent presence and recent successes in other team events, like the Thomas Cup, indicate a positive trajectory in international badminton.
The 2025 Sudirman Cup presents a significant opportunity for Team India to make a deep run in the tournament. With a balanced squad of experienced players and young talents, India’s performance in the challenging Group D will be critical.
Success in this group could pave the way for a historic achievement in Indian badminton.
